Northern Ireland

M1 collision: elderly woman dies in a six car crash

The scene of the three car crash on the M1 motorway which led to the road being closed in both directions. Picture by Tony Hendron
The scene of the three car crash on the M1 motorway which led to the road being closed in both directions. Picture by Tony Hendron The scene of the three car crash on the M1 motorway which led to the road being closed in both directions. Picture by Tony Hendron
By Staff Reporter

POLICE have confirmed that an elderly woman has died in the M1 motorway collision that involved at least six cars on Friday evening.

The tragic news was confirmed by the PSNI on its Twitter page at 10.45pm.

Police apologised to motorists for the major delays in traffic that built up when the motorway was closed in both directions between Moira and Lurgan.

However, a statement said that they now believe that at least six cars were involved in the collision and that the motorway closure would be cleared within an hour.

Motorists were  advised to exit the motorway as safely as possible and to follow police instructions in doing so.

Four other people were taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries, according to the Ambulance Service. No further information is known at this stage of the condition of all those involved.

The closure was due to the mulitiple collision - one of two separate crashes on the motorway in rush-hour traffic. The second collision involving a vehicle and a trailer occurred approximately one mile away, also travelling countrybound.

Earlier on Friday, the M1 was also closed to traffic for a number of hours due to a lorry collidiing with the central reservation near Moira at 11.45am.

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said it received a report of the crash at 5.30pm. It sent three accident and emergency crews, a rapid response vehicle and a doctor to the scene.

The lorry hit the reservation between junction eight at Blaris and junction nine at Moira, Co Down. The crash, which caused long tailbacks, was reported to police at around 11.30am.

The lanes were closed for several hours after debris from the crash spilled on to the road. All lanes of the motorway were re-opened at around 3pm.